Mpox is a viral disease that is usually found in Central and West Africa. Mpox is not a sexually transmitted infection. Mpox was first discovered in laboratory monkeys in 1958. In 1970, mpox was reported in humans for the first time. Mpox can be fatal, but that’s rare. The current outbreak is in virtually every state in the United States and continues to grow.

For some people, mpox can start off feeling like the flu: fever, swollen lymph nodes, and just feeling unwell. Not everyone gets these symptoms though.

People who have mpox will start to see a rash or bumps develop within a couple of weeks after being exposed. The bumps can show up anywhere on the body, including on the face, in the mouth, or on or around the genitals or anus. The bumps can be very subtle and people might only notice one or two of them.

Some people report that the rash can be very painful. Other people say that it can be mild.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website to see examples of mpox rashes.

Anyone can get mpox. It’s not a sexually transmitted infection. Instead, people who have skin-to-skin contact with someone who has mpox can get it from them. There are several ways that it could spread. It can spread:

• If you touch the rash, the scabs of the sores, or body fluids of someone who has mpox.
• If you have close personal contact, like kissing, hugging, and sex of any kind (oral, anal, vaginal), with someone who has mpox.
• If you touch things like clothes or bed sheets that have touched the rash or body fluids of someone who has mpox.
• From a pregnant person to their fetus.

You can get mpox from someone else as soon they have a fever or feel unwell or have a rash. They can give it to someone else the entire time they have a rash until the bumps have scabbed over, fallen off, and new skin has grown back. This can take up to a month.

Anyone who is exposed to mpox can get it. Some groups of Philadelphians are more likely to be exposed to mpox. The current outbreak of mpox has been found more often in men and transgender people who have sex with men and/or who have had multiple partners. Those people should take extra precautions to protect themselves.

If you are exposed to someone with mpox, you should call the Health Department at (215) 685-5488 to tell them you may have been exposed to mpox immediately.  The Health Department will ask about the exposure and work with you to set up an opportunity to receive a vaccine to help keep from getting mpox.

The vaccine must be provided as soon as possible, so making this call quickly is important. Vaccine is being distributed first to those at the highest risk, so people who may be lower risk might not get an immediate vaccine appointment.

Eligibility for mpox vaccination may change as the outbreak evolves and based on vaccine supply. For more information, see the vaccine FAQs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been responding to this outbreak and is tracking where people are getting sick. They have lots of information available about mpox, vaccine, antivirals available on their website. Here are some good resources from them:

• 2022 mpox outbreak situation
• Basic information about mpox
• Signs and symptoms of mpox, including pictures
• Information about mpox vaccine
• Information about mpox treatment
• Information about safer sex (PDF)

There are other good sources of mpox information from local and state health departments:

• New York City: Information on mpox
• Pennsylvania Department of Health: Information on mpox (PDF)

If a person has symptoms of mpox, including a rash or lesions, they should call their regular healthcare provider immediately. If they don’t have a healthcare provider, they can search for a free or low-cost primary care provider or visit an urgent care facility.

People who are experiencing symptoms of mpox or have been diagnosed with mpox cannot be vaccinated.

While you’re waiting to be seen, you should do your best to stay away from others. If you have to go out for essential reasons like food shopping and your rash can be completely covered, do a quick trip and avoid others.

The healthcare provider will order a test for the virus. If they send the test to a private lab, the patient may be charged for it. If this test comes back positive, they likely have mpox. That person should talk with their healthcare provider to see if treatment is needed. The Health Department may also contact that person to ask about people that they may have exposed to mpox.

It’s important that some people’s symptoms of mpox are very mild and they might not notice it right away. If you think you may have been exposed and something feels wrong, contact your healthcare provider. You should also consider letting any partners know that you might have mpox, to help protect them.

The best way to protect yourself from mypox is to not be exposed to it. Some situations are more likely to expose you to mpox.

Most likely

• Direct skin-to-skin contact with the rash, scabs, or body fluids
• Sexual or intimate contact

More likely

• Kissing
• Cuddling
• Dancing indoors in a crowded space with people who aren’t fully clothed

Possible

• Sharing drinks
• Sharing a bed, towels, or personal toilet items
• Dancing indoors in a crowded space with fully clothed people

Less likely

• Dancing at a large event outdoors with mostly clothed people
• Trying on clothing at a store
• Touching a doorknob
• Traveling on a plane or using public transit
• In swimming pools, hot tubs, or bodies of water
• In public restrooms
• At a grocery store, coffee shop, or gym

Be sure to communicate regularly and openly with anyone that you will be coming into skin-to-skin contact with. That means that you should ask:

• Have you been around someone who had mpox?
• Are you feeling sick?
• Do you have a rash or unexplained bumps on your body?

If they answer yes to any of those questions, you should avoid close contact and use gloves or avoid touching things that they have touched. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer frequently.

If you think that you were exposed to mpox, you should call the Health Department at (215) 685-5488 to tell them you may have been exposed to mpox.

Vaccine for mpox is called JYNNEOS vaccine. It is available in Philadelphia for anyone that believes they are likely to be exposed to mpox. The vaccine is for people who have not tested positive for mpox.

This vaccine usually only has minor reactions like pain, swelling, and redness at the site of injection. This vaccine is safe for people with HIV.

If you get vaccinated at a pharmacy or private clinic, there may be an administration fee. This fee could be charged to you or your insurance.

The JYNNEOS vaccine is administered in two doses at least four weeks apart.

While JYNNEOS requires two doses before individuals are considered fully vaccinated, a single dose can still offer protection. When vaccine was more difficult to get, some people only got one dose.

This delay does not negatively affect the immune response to the second dose. The Health Department will notify people who got first doses when second doses are available and how to get them.

Vaccines are available through a network of community providers and pharmacies. For more information on where to get vaccinated against mpox, visit the Vaccines page.